Life and work

Nõu was born the son of the Estonian agricultural scientist Joosep Nõu (1906–1999). In 1944 the family fled the approaching Red Army

Red Army

The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...

 to Sweden

Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

. From 1953 to 1961 Nõu studied medicine at the University of Uppsala. He then worked as a lung specialist. From 1979 Nõu was a lecturer at the Medical Faculty of Uppsala University. In 1957 he married the Estonian exile writer Helga Nõu (born Raukas, born 1934).

Nõu was one of the leading organizers of Estonian exile community in Sweden and was politically active against the Soviet occupation of Estonia. He became famous as a writer, known for his naturalistic and richly detailed prose. Between 1999 and 2000, Nõu was the last Chairman of the Estonian Association of Writers Abroad (Välismaine Eesti Kirjanike Liit).

Works (selection)

• Pidulik Marss (novel, 1968, 1992)
• Vastuvett (collection of short stories, 1972, 1995)
• Lõigatud tiibadega (novel, 1976, 1994)
• Pärandusmaks (novel, 1976, 1994)
• Nelikümmend viis (novel, 1984, 1996)
• Koeratapja (novel, 1988, 1993, 2009)
• Presidendi kojutulek (novel, 1996)
• Mõtusekuke viimane kogupauk (novel, 2005)
• Vabariigi pojad ja tütred I osa (novel, 2010)
• Vabariigi pojad ja tütred II osa (novel, 2011)

• Tont teab (anthology of short stories, editor and co-author, 1968)

• Tõotan ustavaks jääda...Eesti Vabariigi valitsus 1940-1992 (Collection of historical writings and documents; editors: Mart Orav and Enn Nõu, Enn Nõu is also co-author)(2004)